Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 10-11 rays. No notch on the dorsal fin. Anal with 3 spines and 8 rays. Pectoral fin with 15-16 rays. Gill rakers on the lower limb (including rudiments) 30-34. Body relatively slender. No teeth on roof of mouth. Lower jaw protruding. Fins scale less. Caudal fin deeply forked. Colour: Usually reddish tending silvery below. Edge of maxilla black. Upper jaw edged with black. Fins yellowish to reddish except pelvic and anal fins which are sometimes whitish.
Habitat and Biology: Occurs on coral reefs, rocky and sandy bottoms at 50 to at least 100 m depth. Feeds on small crustaceans, other sand dwelling invertebrates and fish.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.
Remarks: Of the two related species of Aphareus, this is the larger and apparently the more deep-dwelling. The Dhivehi name, ‘Fashuvi rankaru mas’, means fish with the golden thread gill rakers.